For the love of little Eleni

Family and friends rally round to help dad's London stay with daughter (3)

Martin Quinn, with his daughter Eleni, who has just had major heart surgery

Caring friends and relatives of a three-year-old have raised £3000 to help her taxi driver dad be at her bedside as she recovers from heart surgery.

Little Eleni Quinn is currently recovering in hospital in London after having her third bout of open heart surgery last week.

With the operation being performed by specialistsdown south, it meant her dad Martin, from Toryglen, had to take time off from work to be with her.

Martin (39) is a taxi driver – which means if he doesn’t work, he doesn’t get paid.

But generous friends have dug deep, raising £3000 to enable him to join his partner Elaine Timplaibxis in London to be with Eleni.

Martin’s dad George Quinn said: “Wee Eleni was diagnosed with DORV VSD (Double Outlet Right Ventricle ventricular septal defect) when she was just five-and-a-half months old and she had her first open heart surgery.

“Eleni has both arteries coming out at the right side of her heart, and has a massive hole between the bottom of her two ventricles.

“In February last year, Eleni had her second operation at Yorkhill, which lasted nine hours. This was to repair her heart but unfortunately after surgeons tried different procedures, they were unable to repair it.

“They had to undo the work they had already done and put Eleni’s heart back to the way it was before the op. We were then told she would have to be referred to a surgeon in London .

“Martin will be with Eleni in London for another three weeks or so and will have to pay for his accommodation, travel and food.

“Because he’s a taxi driver, it means when he’s not working, he’s not earning.

“So many friends have come forward and organised fundraisers for us, like race nights and other events.

“It’s been amazing – they’ve raised more than £3000, which is just fantastic, especially at this time of year.”

After having her operation last Monday, Eleni, who lives with her parents in Castlemilk, has been making a good recovery.

George said: “We were told she would probably be in a coma for five days after the operation but, after eight hours in surgery, she was fighting to get the ventilator out as she was breathing herself, then they took out the drains.

“Within hours, she was sitting up and playing with Play-Doh, and it wasn’t long before she was taken off the morphine and was just receiving paracetamol to help with any pain .

“I can’t believe that Eleni was in surgery for hours, she has stunned everyone with her recovery.

“Many adults wouldn’t be having a recovery as quickly as this never mind a three-year-old child. It’s a miracale.”

Anyone who wants to donate should visit the Facebook page Our Mission For Martin for more details.